« | 1 Chronicles 23 | » |
1 David became an old man, so he made his son Solomon the new king of Israel.
2 David gathered all the leaders of Israel and also the priests and Levites.
3 David counted the Levites who were 30 years old and older. All together there were 38,000 Levites.
4 David said, "24,000 will supervise the work of building the Lord's temple. 6000 will be court officers and judges.
5 4000 will be gatekeepers, and 4000 will be musicians. I made special musical instruments for them. They will use them to praise the Lord."
6 David separated the Levites into three groups. They were the tribes of Levi's three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
7 From the tribe of Gershon there were Ladan and Shimei.
8 Ladan had three sons. His oldest son was Jehiel. His other sons were Zethan and Joel.
9 Shimei's sons were Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. These three sons were leaders in Ladan's families.
10 Shimei had four sons. They were Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah.
11 Jahath was the oldest son and Ziza was the second son. But Jeush and Beriah did not have many children. So Jeush and Beriah were counted like one family.
12 Kohath had four sons. They were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
13 Amram's sons were Aaron and Moses. Aaron was chosen to be very special. Aaron and his descendants were chosen to be special forever. They were chosen to prepare the holy things for the Lord's service. Aaron and his descendants were chosen to burn the incense before the Lord. They were chosen to serve the Lord as priests. They were chosen to use the Lord's name and give blessings to the people forever.
14 Moses was the man of God, and his sons were part of the tribe of Levi.
15 Moses' sons were Gershom and Eliezer.
16 Gershom's oldest son was Shubael.
17 Eliezer's oldest son was Rehabiah. Eliezer had no other sons. But Rehabiah had very many sons.
18 Izhar's oldest son was Shelomith.
19 Hebron's oldest son was Jeriah. Hebron's second son was Amariah. Jahaziel was the third son, and Jekameam was the fourth son.
20 Uzziel's oldest son was Micah, and Isshiah was his second son.
21 Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's sons were Eleazar and Kish.
22 Eleazar died without having sons. He only had daughters. Eleazar's daughters married their own relatives. Their relatives were Kish's sons.
23 Mushi's sons were Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth. There were three sons in all.
24 These were Levi's descendants. They were listed by their families. They were the leaders of families. Each person's name was listed. The people who were listed were 20 years old or older. They served in the Lord's Temple.
25 David had said, "The Lord, the God of Israel, has given peace to his people. The Lord has come to Jerusalem to live there forever.
26 So the Levites don't need to carry the Holy Tent or any of the things used in its services anymore."
27 David's last instructions for the Israelites were to count the descendants from the tribe of Levi. They counted the Levite men who were 20 years old and older.
28 The Levites had the job of helping Aaron's descendants in the service of the Lord's Temple. They also cared for the Temple yard and the side rooms in the Temple. They had the job of making all holy things pure. It was their job to serve in God's Temple.
29 They were responsible for putting the special bread on the table in the Temple and for the flour, the grain offerings, and the bread made without yeast. They were also responsible for the baking pans and the mixed offerings. They did all the measuring.
30 The Levites stood every morning and gave thanks and praise to the Lord. They also did this every evening.
31 The Levites prepared all the burnt offerings to the Lord on the Sabbath days, during New Moon celebrations, and on the other special meeting days. They served before the Lord every day. There were special rules for how many Levites should serve each time.
32 So the Levites did everything that they were supposed to do. They took care of the Holy Tent and the Holy Place. And they helped their relatives, the priests, Aaron's descendants, with the services at the Lord's Temple.
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV)
The Easy-To-Read Version (ERV) is a Bible translation specifically designed to be accessible and comprehensible for people with limited reading skills or those for whom English is a second language. Originally published in 1987 by the World Bible Translation Center, the ERV was initially developed to serve the deaf community, using a simplified vocabulary and straightforward sentence structures. The goal of the ERV is to make the scriptures understandable to a wide range of readers, ensuring that everyone can grasp the essential messages of the Bible without being hindered by complex language or archaic terms.
One of the defining characteristics of the ERV is its commitment to clarity and simplicity. The translators employed a thought-for-thought translation philosophy, focusing on conveying the meaning of the original texts in plain, everyday English. This approach ensures that readers can easily comprehend the Bible’s teachings and narratives, making it a valuable resource for children, new Christians, and those with limited literacy skills. The ERV avoids technical theological terms and instead uses language that is commonly spoken, making it accessible for personal study and public reading alike.
The ERV also pays careful attention to the cultural and contextual nuances of the original manuscripts. The translators sought to present the Bible’s messages in a way that is relevant and meaningful to contemporary readers while maintaining faithfulness to the original texts. This cultural sensitivity helps bridge the gap between ancient scriptures and modern readers, allowing them to connect more deeply with the biblical stories and teachings. Additionally, the ERV includes helpful footnotes and cross-references that provide further explanation and context, enhancing the reader’s understanding of the text.
Despite its strengths, the ERV has faced some criticism from those who prefer more traditional or literal translations. Critics argue that the simplified language and thought-for-thought approach can sometimes result in a loss of depth and richness found in the original texts. Some theologians believe that the ERV’s emphasis on accessibility may lead to oversimplification of complex theological concepts. Nonetheless, the Easy-To-Read Version remains a highly valuable translation for its target audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps people of all backgrounds engage with and understand the scriptures.